Cyphochilus satyarthii, Sabatinelli, 2020

Sabatinelli, Guido, 2020, Taxonomic notes on the genus Cyphochilus Waterhouse, 1867 (Coleoptera, Scarabaeoidea, Melolonthinae) with description of 10 new species, Revue suisse de Zoologie 127 (1), pp. 157-181 : 166-168

Cyphochilus satyarthii n. sp.

Figs 35-37

Holotype: MHNG ( MHNG-ENTO-81689 ); 1 ♂; SIKKIM: // Himalaja [sic] / Sikkim // HOLOTYPUS ♂ / Cyphochilus / satyarthii mihi / G. Sabatinelli, 2020 (T on red) //.

Paratypes: 3 specimens.

SIKKIM: ISNB; 1 ♂; Sikkim; ex coll. Ley. – PCMN; 1 ♂; India, Sikkim east, Gantok, env. 2000-2500 m, Fambong-Lo forest ; 8-15.VII.1997; Jan Schneider lgt.

WEST BENGAL: MNHN; 1 ♂; Pedong [Kalimpong]; A. Desgodins; ex coll. R. Oberthur.

Description of the holotype male: Size – BL: 18.5 mm, BW: 7.6 mm, BWX: 9.8 mm, situated in the distal third of elytra. Color – Integument dark brown while legs and appendices reddish brown; dorsal surface with scales uniformly white cream, more dense along sides of pronotum and margins of elytra. Head – CW/L: 2.8; anterolateral edges of clypeus slightly angulate, lateral edges of clypeus gradually rounded posteriad; frons large, making eyes not prominent (F/O: 7.7); antennal club slightly longer than antennomeres 2-7 (A2-7/CL: 0.9). Pronotum – Transverse (PnW/L: 2.1), strongly convex, slightly concave just behind eyes; apical angles flattened, right, not protuberant; basal lateral margins gently curved, basal angles obtuse and smooth. Elytra – Without any stria visible. Thoracic sterna – Surface with long, yellowish-brown pubescence and scattered scales; mesosternum well developed anteriorly (MstL: 1.39 mm) between the mesocoxae, pointed and curved dorsally. Abdomen – Sternites with sparse scales (the eight sternite is absent in the holotype specimen); pygidium convex with apical margin reflected. Legs – Protibia tridentate, smallest tooth at base; slender apical tooth subequal to middle tooth. Aedeagus – Parameres slightly asymmetric, both curved dorsally ( Figs 35, 37 ; external margin of right paramere with a spur in the distal third ( Fig. 35 ).

Variability: BL: 18-20 mm.

Female: Unknown.

Etymology: Kailash Satyarthi was recipient of the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize, founder of multiple social organizations in favor of children’s rights in India, from where the new species of Cyphochilus is described.

Type locality: The type specimen was collected in Sikkim, a small state (about 7,000 km 2) in northeastern India bordering Tibet , Bhutan, Nepal, and West Bengal. Sikkim is notable for its biodiversity, including alpine and subtropical climates. Several species of Scarabaeoidea are described from material collected in its national park that covers 35% of the state.

Distribution: The species is also known from a locality in West Bengal state of India.

Remarks: Cyphochilus satyarthii , C. candidus , C. septentrionalis , C. gandhii , and C. tenzingyatsoi , all inhabiting the north East of India, are very close in the external morphology. Consequently, the five species were often confused in the past. Cyphochilus satyarthii is recognizable by the shape of parameres: the left paramere unarmed and the right one with an externally directed spur ( Fig. 36 ).

Figures

Figs 35-46. Parameres in right, dorsal, and left view. (35-37) Cyphochilus satyarthii n. sp., holotype. (38-40) C. peninsularis Arrow, 1938, lectotype. (41-43) C. flavomarginatus Frey, 1971, lectotype. (44-46) C. sansuukyii n. sp., holotype. – Scale bars = 1 mm.